You may know of her, she was the brave and rather remarkable little girl that sold lemonade to help raise money for cancer research - in her own words, "when I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand" - wanting to give the money to doctors to allow them to "help other kids, like they helped me."
I copy her courageous story from the Alex's Lemonade Stand website:
"Shortly before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. On her first birthday, the doctors informed Alex's parents that if she beat her cancer it was doubtful that she would ever walk again. Just two weeks later, Alex slightly moved her leg at her parents' request to kick. This was the first indication of who she would turn out to be - a determined, courageous, confident and inspiring child with big dreams and big accomplishments.
By her second birthday, Alex was crawling and able to stand up with leg braces. She worked hard to gain strength and to learn how to walk. She appeared to be beating the odds, until the shattering discovery within the next year that her tumors had started growing again. In the year 2000, the day after her fourth birthday, Alex received a stem cell transplant and informed her mother, "when I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand." She said she wanted to give the money to doctors to allow them to "help other kids, like they helped me." True to her word, she held her first lemonade stand later that year and raised an amazing $2,000 for "her hospital."
While bravely battling her own cancer, Alex continued to hold yearly lemonade stands in her front yard to benefit childhood cancer research. News spread of the remarkable sick child dedicated to helping other sick children. People from all over the world, moved by her story, held their own lemonade stands and donated the proceeds to Alex and her cause.
...
In August of 2004, Alex passed away at the age of 8, knowing that, with the help of others, she had raised over $1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life."
**to honor her memory and right to rest eternally in privacy - I won't say where she is buried but will share her story and a picture of her final resting place - she was triumphant in a way - with her terrible battle with cancer. She will never be forgotten. I urge you to help find a cure in whatever way you can.
20 comments:
What an inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing that. It's been a cancer kind of autumn around our home, so it helps to hear about someone who rose above that demanding disease by thinking of others and focusing on doing something productive.
What a touching story. It's simultaneously sad and inspiring how someone so young was so giving and gave her short time with us to help others.
I thought this was so sad.
amen.
Several months ago a local person did their own Alex lemonade stand at a local park here. If I remember correctly, their child currently was cancer free and they had done the stand for a few years to help raise money for cancer. I remember they highlighted how Alex had started it. I also remember being teary eyed. I'm sure it was humbling and touching when you saw her grave, Iggy. One day I would hope a cure could be find......
betty
What an inspiring story of a remarkable little girl.
Inspirational and worth considering how we can make a mark as this brave girl did.
One person can make a difference!!! Very inspirational story!
It is, was and continues to be a wonderfully inspriational story. I always find it amazing what I learn from ones so small...
What an inspiration! And a beautiful stone. Some of these little children come and go like angels and show us by example how we should be. Cancer is such a horrible disease and I don't think I know anyone who hasn't known somebody who's fought it or lost somebody to it. Thanks for this post, Iggy! :)
She was an amazing little girl battling a terrible disease. I've seen a couple "Alex's Lemonade Stand"s in our area over the past few years, and they raised a considerable amount of money with them.
Alex was such an inspiration to so many people. Beautiful headstone marking her grave. Thanks for posting the picture.
made me weep
What a brave little lady. One person can make a difference. She was one tiny little girl with a huge heart. Thanks for reminding us that there are people in the world doing wonderful things. She made such a difference in a remarkably short time. She was and is truly an angel on earth.
What an amazing story. We need more Alexes among us. And how wonderful that you posted this and made us all aware that there is always a way that we can do our part.
Huge hugs.
Punkn
Wonderful!
Thanks for sharing the headstone and the story..I remember her story..both the happy and sad parts..kinda like the sweet/sour flavors in lemonade:)
What a beautiful and inspirational story; thank you for sharing it!
sweet sorrow.
I see Alex's lemonade stands everywhere in the warm weather! She was an inspiration to all of us. What a tremendous little girl with such a brave heart! Thanks for sharing.
I do remember this and it is so very very sad, I just love how kids try to raise money to help others!
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